Mounting bracket for outboard motors



Jan. 28, 1969 R. E. GAYLE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed March 28, 1967 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. GAYLE ATTORNEYS United States Patent MOUNTING BRACKET FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Robert E. Gayle, Shawnee Mission, Kans., assignor to Phantom Products, a Division of Pflueger Corporation,

Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 626,555

US. Cl. 248-4 Int. Cl. B63h 21/30 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Heretofore in outboard motors the mounting bracket has been incapable of holding the motor in a position off of vertical except in certain instances where the propeller could be partially out of the water. No one has devised a mounting bracket whereby the motor and propeller could be locked in a position and entirely out of the water.

The present invention particularly relates to a mounting bracket for a trolling motor wherein the motor and propeller are entirely under water, but may also be utilized for other motors.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a mounting bracket wherein the motor and propeller may be at an angle with respect to the boat, and particularly wherein the shaft to which the motor is fastened is not in vertical position, and to provide a device wherein the shaft for supporting the motor may be locked in a horizontal position, entirely out of the water, so that the boat may be transported by another outboard motor, or even an inboard motor, from place to place on the water.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter described, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket and shaft for supporting the motor and propeller under water, the boat to which the bracket is attached being shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary partly cross sectional view showing the shaft for the motor locked in a horizontal position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary partly cross sectional view showing the bracket attached to the stern of the boat, with the shaft to which the motor and propeller is attached in vertical position, and the out of vertical position showing the locking member in dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken from the front or interior boat side of the bracket, the shaft and lever for controlling the motor not being shown.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on a line 55, FIG. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a bracket embodying the features of the present invention, shown attached to the stern 2 of a boat 3, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. The bracket consists of a substantially U-shaped member 4 having a leg 5 and a shorter leg 6 spaced therefrom and adapted to seat therebetween is the stern 2 of the boat 3 as indicated in FIG. 3. The U-shaped frame member is of flat structure having a flat bar portion 7 and outwardly extending spaced flanges 8 and 9 on the leg portion 6 and 10 and 11 on the longer leg portion 5. The leg portion 6 is flared outwardly on the lower end as indicated at 12 and 13, forming ears provided with threaded openings 14 and 15 for receiving the threaded shanks 16 and 17 of clamping bolts 18 and 19. The bolts have the usual foot portions 20 and 21 for engaging against the side 22 of the stem 2 of the boat 3, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The flanges 10 and 11 of the longer leg 5 are tapered outwardly at the lower ends as indicated at 23 and have a closed bottom 24 provided with spaced openings 25 and 26 for a purpose later described. Extending outwardly from each side of the bar portion 27 of the U- shaped bracket member are lugs 28 and 29 adapted to engage on the top 30 of the stern 2 of the boat to lend rigidity to the structure.

Pivotally mounted between the flanges of the U-shaped bracket member 1 at the top thereof and substantially above the leg 5 by a pin 31 is a sub-frame structure 32 having a bearing portion 33 through which the pin 31 extends and through the spaced flanges of the bracket member. The sub-frame 32 has a leg 34 and at one end thereof is an extension 35 having an opening 36 therein, and at the other end an extension 37 having an opening 38, the openings being adapted to receive a tubular shaft member 39 upon the lower end of which is rigidly mounted by welding or other suitable means a motor 40 provided with a propeller 41. A collar 42 is provided for fitting around the tubular shaft 39 provided with a thumb screw 43 for tightening of the collar on the shaft to prevent the shaft from sliding downwardly through the openings 36 and 38. It will be obvious, of course, that the shaft may be adjusted in the sub-bracket by loosening of the thumb screw 43 and then tightening the same, so that the motor will be in the water the desired depth. The leg 34 has an arm 44 on its lower end extending towards the leg 5 and in the opposite direction to the extension 37 on the sub-frame, and the arm 44 engages on the upper side of the bottom 24 in the leg 5. The arm 44 is provided with an opening 45, also for a purpose later described.

The sub-frame 32 has an opening 46 extending therethrough parallel to the leg 34 and aligning with the opening 45. The opening 46 is adapted to receive the leg 47 of a locking pin 48 of substantially the same size, but slightly smaller, than the openings 25 and 26 in the bottom 24 of the leg 5, and the opening 45 of the arm 44. The leg portion 47 of the pin 48 is provided with a groove 49 for receiving a washer 50 against which one end of a coil spring 51 engages and the other end engages against the lower side 52 of the bracket 32. The leg of the locking pin 48 is provided with a second groove 53 for receiving a washer 54 which engages against the top side of the bracket 32 when the coil spring urges the locking pin towards its locking position, as shown in FIG. 3.

Mounted on the upper end of the tubular shaft 39 is the usual steering apparatus and switch mechanism 55 including a rheostat member 56. The direction of travel of the boat is manipulated by operation of the handle 57. The motor is energized by wire lines 58 from a source of supply (not shown) and extends through the tubular member to the motor for energizing the same.

With the bracket and locking pin in the position as shown in FIG. 3, the shaft 39 will be operated in a vertical position and the motor on the lower end thereof in a horizontal position. If it is desired to operate a motor at a slight angle off of the horizontal, upward movement of the locking pin 48 will disengage the end 59 thereof from 3 the opening 26 and it then may be engaged in the opening 25, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, to hold the motor at the angled position. If it is desired to raise the motor completely out of the water, the locking pin is removed from either of the openings 25 or 26 and positioned horizontally as shown in FIG. 2.

The leg portion 6 of the frame 32 is angled slightly as indicated at 60 and positioned substantially midway between the flanges 8 and 9 thereof is an opening 61 extending substantially parallel with the bar portion 62 of the U-shaped member and the end 63 of the hook portion 64 of the locking pin is adapted to engage in the opening 61, thereby locking the shaft 39 in a horizontal position and the motor out of the water.

The surface 65 of the leg has ribs 66 and 67 and 68 to aid in clamping the bracket to the stern of the boat.

It will be obvious that the bracket and framework structure may be mounted to one side of the stern of the boat, with the outboard motor fastened thereon, and the motor raised out of the water so that the regular motor (not shown) may be utilized for transporting when the trolling motor is not in use.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bracket for mounting a motor to a boat comprismg:

(a) a U-shaped frame having legs and spaced outwardly etxending flanges,

(b) means for attaching said frame to the boat,

(c) a sub-frame,

(d) means pivotally mounting said sub-frame to the U-shaped frame, said means including a pin between said flanges,

(e) means for mounting said motor on said sub-frame,

and

(f) locking means for holding said sub-frame in vertical position with respect to the U-shaped frame when the motor is in used position on said boat and in horizontal position when not in use, one of said frame legs having a closed bottom provided with spaced openings longitudinally of the bottom, and said subframe having a portion fitting over said bottom and another portion having an opening therein to selectively align with said openings in said bottom, said locking means including an elongated rod extending longitudinally of said sub-frame and a spring urging said rod to engage one end thereof with an opening in the bottom of said one leg of the frame, the other leg of said frame having an opening extending transversely thereof between said flanges and said locking rod having one end turned forming a leg portion having an end adapted to engage in said last named opening to hold said sub-frame in transverse relation to said U-shaped frame to hold said motor above the stern of the boat.

2. A bracket for mounting a motor carried by a shaft and submerged under water on a boat, comprising:

(a) a U-shaped frame, said frame having parallel extending spaced legs connected by a bar portion for engaging said boat and said U-shaped frame has spaced flanges extending outwardly therefrom and the legs between said flanges being substantially flat, one of said legs having a closed bottom and having spaced openings therein,

(b) means for attaching said frame to the boat,

(c) an elongated sub-frame,

(d) an arm having a bearing member extending from one side of said sub-frame near one end and adapted to engage between the flanges of the cross bar portion of the frame, said arm having an opening therein,

(e) a pin for engaging in said bearing for pivotally mounting the sub-frame between said flanges,

(f) an arm extending from the other end of said subframe parallel with said bearing member, said arm having an opening therein aligning with the opening in the bearing arm,

(g) arms extending outwardly from the elongated portion of the sub-frame oppositely from said other arms having aligned openings therein, for receiving the shaft for carrying said motor, and

(h) locking means for holding said sub-frame in vertical position with respect to the U-shaped frame when the motor is in use position on said boat and in horizontal position when not in use, said locking means including an elongated rod extending longitudinally of said sub-frame and a spring urging said rod to engage one end thereof with an opening in the bottom of said one leg of the frame, and the other leg of said frame has an opening extending transversely thereof between said flanges and said locking rod has one end turned forming a leg portion having an end adapted to engage in said last named opening to hold said sub-frame in transverse relation to said U-shaped frame to hold said motor above the stern of the boat.

3. A bracket for mounting a motor to a boat, comprising:

(a) a U-shaped frame having legs and spaced outwardly extending portions,

(b) means for attaching said U-shaped frame to the boat,

(c) an elongated sub-frame normally adapted to lie alongside one of the legs of said U-shaped frame, (d) means pivotally mounting said sub-frame to said U-shaped frame between said outwardly extending portions,

(e) means for mounting said motor on said sub-frame,

(f) means for holding said sub-frame in vertical position with respect to the U-shaped frame when the motor is in use position on said boat,

(g) said sub-frame having spaced end portions and aligned openings in said end portions,

(h) means for releasing said sub-frame from its vertical position on said U-shaped frame and locking said sub-frame in transverse position relative to said legs of said U-shaped frame, said locking means including an elongated rod extending longitudinally through the aligned openings of said sub-frame and a spring urging one end of said rod to engage a portion of one leg of the U-shaped frame, the other of said legs of the U-shaped frame having an opening extending transversely therethrough in alignment with said rod, said rod having one end turned forming a leg portion extending parallel with said rod and having an end adapted to engage in said last named opening to hold said sub-frame in transverse relation to said U- shaped frame to hold said motor above the stern of the boat.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,740,602 4/1956 Kloss 248-4 2,748,743 6/ 1956 Shogran -18 3,245,640 4/ 1966 Ibbs 248-4 FOREIGN PATENTS 710,586 6/1965 Canada.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X. R. 115-18; 248291 

